Industry Documents
A unique archive in the world
Our work is based on internal tobacco industry documents held in the Industry Documents Library at the University of California, San Francisco.
Created in 2002, the Industry Documents Library’s mission is to preserve and make accessible millions of documents from historic litigation, including the Master Settlement Agreement (1998).
Initially focused solely on tobacco, the library has expanded to include other sectors that have an impact on public health: opioid manufacturers, the chemical industry, agribusiness and fossil fuel industries.
The database is continuously updated and now contains nearly 20 million tobacco-related documents dating back to the the beginning of the 20th century. It also includes recent files, such as those from the lawsuits against Juul in the United States.
Why analyse documents that are sometimes old?
One might think that the strategies described in these documents are outdated and that the industry has evolved. However, even though new products have appeared and the industry has adapted to societal changes, its tactics remain largely similar:
- Manipulation of public opinion;
- Influence on scientific research;
- Marketing targeting young people;
- Aggressive lobbying;
Contrary to its claims, the industry has not undergone any fundamental change, and analysing past cases provides a better understanding of the issues at stake today.
Tobacco Tactics: a reference tool
Our analyses are also based on the ‘Tobacco Tactics’ website, an essential resource developed by the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom. This database is recognised as the international benchmark for monitoring the tobacco industry.
The website provides rigorous summaries on:
- The tactics used to obstruct public health policies;
- Organisations, institutions and individuals collaborating with the industry, including front groups;
- Current issues such as plain packaging, taxation, illicit trade, new nicotine products and the conduct of scientific research.
